busy times...

[VJ]

I imagined you could but I just wasn't sure about the type of aircraft you use. But either that's great, at least it's somehting you can do all year round.

This is the fleet of our club:

http://www.nzvc.be/nzvc_club/nzvc_club_vloot_inhoud.html

(I can currently fly the OO-AYA, OO-MLB and OO-NZA).
None of the 6 planes is equipped with de-icing on the wings, so they are all limited in the winter.

Do you fly much during the winter?

Normally, I try not to let the season interfere with my flying.

Basically, the weather that can prevent me from flying is: heavy crosswind (more than 15 kts becomes difficult) or gusting winds (gusting wind is defined as "quickly changing in speed, more than 10kts difference"), poor visibility (less than 4500m forward visibility, but that the strict minimum, it isn't comfortable flying in this: slant visibility (= looking forward and down) is usually much worse than forward visibility), rainfall/snow/... (light rain is ok if the temperature is high enough) and storm clouds (towering cumulus). Of course, the icing level must be high enough to allow for flying.

In summer, the main problems are: wind, visibility and storms.
In winter, the main problems are: rain/snow, icing level.

I'm perhaps a bit too cautious, but if the weather airport's meteo says anything of the above, I won't take off. Main problem is that my home airport is close to the sea; it can be quite windy. And being in Belgium, provides for our share of rainfall.


Jörg

[ZokesPro]

Better to be cautious than not. Had a friend who flew a similar plane and he had to land on the highway cause he forgot to check the fuel level before takeoff. Oops.

[VJ]

Ouch, wouldn't want to be in that situation...

Last weekend, someone made a rough landing with one of the planes (the OO-AYA). The result is that the engine suspension is damaged, and needs to be repaired. This plane will be out of commission for quite some time (parts have to be ordered in the US, repair is complex, testing afterwards, ...).
Adding the fact that one plane is reserved for instruction (but we can't reserve it in advance, only on the same day), this only leaves one plane available... And none this Saturday: it is in (scheduled) maintenance.


Jörg

[ZokesPro]

So basically you won't be able to get much flying till the other plane is fixed? Damn, that sucks.

[Umfriend]

None of those planes have retractable gears? How's that for fuel efficiency? (and top speed )

[agallag]

The little planes don't really get going fast enough where the drag on the wheels would make a big difference. I think their cruising speed is only about 80 knots.

[VJ]

Zokes: Yep... This Saturday, only one Cessna C-150 is available and it is reserverd for instructions (judging by the reservation, it will be used all day). Normally, there will now be 1 Cessna C-150 available (instead of 2).

Umfriend: Agallag answerd it; the cruising speed of the Cessna C-150 is around 85 kts. The 2 Pipers have housings around the wheels which helps aerodynamics somewhat (they have slightly higher cruising speeds, more like 100-110 kts).

Guchi: Congratulations! My stats: Word count : dunno (I use LaTeX, document is split in 8 files), 188 pages (currently A4, the final format is smaller so this will grow; still a number of sections and one whole chapter to complete, so I expect it to be about 220 pages in A4 paper size), size on disk depends on the output format (text only = 402 KB, all images = 245 MB, dvi-output = 650 KB, postscript = 145 MB).


Jörg

[ZokesPro]

Zokes: Yep... This Saturday, only one Cessna C-150 is available and it is reserverd for instructions (judging by the reservation, it will be used all day). Normally, there will now be 1 Cessna C-150 available (instead of 2).

Jörg

Is there anything special that you do or anywhere special you go when you fly? Or is ti just for the sake of flying? In Quebec there are a lot of places that you just can't access without a plane, would be fun to take one and go camping somewhere ultra remote.

Ever think about getting your own plane?

@Guchi: Yay! Must be a relief.

[VJ]

Normally, we fly around in Belgium, or to neighbouring countries (I haven't had much experience with longer flights, but everytime I plan one, something comes up). I'm also getting a GPS, as this is a very comfortable thing to have as backup (or just when one is doubting about position).

Now, due to illness and bad weather, it has been close to 2 months, so I just want to fly a couple of touch-and-goes as practise.

I guess most pilots dream of having their own plane. I'm not ruling it out, but it'll have to wait till I get settled down (first get a long-term job at some university, which I hope to achieve shortly after the phd; then find a house; and then perhaps... ). But it is not a priority.


Jörg

[ZokesPro]

I guess you have your priorities. That's ok, but as long as you can get some flying done.

My cousin had an Ultralite before he bought a Piper Cub, I think that's the model. Anyways, I'v never flewn in his Piper but the Ultralite was loads of fun. Good luck with your job hunting and phd VJ.

[VJ]

Finally managed to get some flying done... It was only 25 minutes; shortly after takeoff there was a shower, but I did 2 landings (first one in the rain). They were OK (a nice safe, soft touchdown), but I didn't really care much for the distance: visibility due to rain on the windshield made this difficult (we have no wipers!), and on a 3200m long runway, one always has enough room.


Jörg

[Dr Mordrid]

@Zokes: ever think the ex is trying to keep you close for use as a 'spare'; some known quantity to run back to?

@VJ: no wipers? Get some Rain-X rain repellent;

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/repconrepel.php

Works on planes & race cars. Also comes in spray bottles.

[ZokesPro]

@Zokes: ever think the ex is trying to keep you close for use as a 'spare'; some known quantity to run back to?

I know she trying to keep me close, just not sure why exactly.

[Dr Mordrid]

In my experience the 'spare' technique is very, very common.